CCC observatory welcomes viewers

Saturday

Aug 19, 2017 at 6:46 PMAug 19, 2017 at 7:19 PM

By Stephen Borgna sborgna@the-leader.com

CORNING - For those looking to view Monday’s solar eclipse from a great vantage point, Corning Community College is going to hold a special viewing event at the Eileen Collins Observatory on the Spencer Hill Campus.

At the viewing, eclipse glasses will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Volunteers will also be on hand to answer any questions.

“We’re going to have a handful of astronomy buffs and astronomy professors up here that can talk to you about the eclipse that’s going on,” said Deborah Dann, CCC geology and astronomy professor and observatory director.

One or two solar telescopes will also be available to view the eclipse. Dann said these devices block out 99.9 percent of incoming light from the sun.

At the peak of the eclipse in New York, about 70 percent of the sun will be covered by the moon. A live feed of totality, where the sun is 100 percent covered, will be available for viewing in the Kelly Lounge.

Dann said wearing specialized eclipse glasses are absolutely required when viewing it. These glasses have been flying off of shelves in stores and online.

“You should not look at the eclipse at anytime with your naked eye here in New York ,” she said. “Even that little bit, that 30 percent of the sun, will still burn your retina, will still damage your eye, possibly for life. So you don’t want to do that at all.”

Even while wearing the glasses, staring at the eclipse for extended periods of time is not recommended.

And despite that the day will be reduced to twilight for a few hours beginning around 1 p.m. Monday, regular sunglasses are not going to cut it when trying to view the eclipse.

“No sunglasses,” Dann said. “Sunglasses are not good. You think they block out a lot, but if you look through eclipse glasses, you know that’s blocking out everything. Sunglasses are no good; naked eye is no good at any time.”

For those who wish to view the eclipse from the observatory, it will be open from 12:30-4 p.m. Monday, weather permitting. All are welcome to attend.

“We haven't had a total solar eclipse crossing the country in about 40 years,” Dann said. "Because we haven’t had it in such a long time, and it’s such a widely spread thing -- anybody can see it -- it’s really exciting.”

The next solar eclipse visible from North America is expected to take place in 2024.

In the 2024 eclipse, the path of totality, where the sun is blocked completely, will pass through western New York.